Factors Associated with Aerial Pesticide Applicator Crashes in the United States: 1995-2013

Background: On the job deaths related to aviation are the seventh leading cause of occupational injury in the United States. The aim of this study was to examine aerial pesticide applicator crashes and associated factors over the nearly past two decades. Methods: Pesticide applicators involved in an aerial pesticide plane crash from 1995-2013 was compiled from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) crash databases. A retrospective group study was carried out to determine factors associated (i.e., experience of pilot, flight phase, license held, aircraft damage, etc.) influencing morbidity/mortality in this population. Univariate and bivariate methods were conducted to assess the relationship between factors associated with aviation crashes. Results: During the study period, there were 433 crashes reported in the U.S. The majority of crashes (n=45) occurred in 1995. Arizona, Texas, Louisiana and California were the states with the most crashes reported. The majority of crashes occurred in May-September (77%) compared to the rest of the year (23%). In total, there were 3 fatalities and 13 injuries reported during the study period. Total mean flying time of the group was calculated to be 9104.51 hours (STD 7948.25 hours). In regression analysis, major factors associated with crashes were; type of license held by pilot, mean flying time, and phase of the flight during crash, although these were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Recommendations for reducing morbidity/mortality include; implementing the FAA Safe Flight Programs, participating in “fly-in” clinics, and visually inspecting terrain before aerial application. More extensive research using more complete data sets to evaluate aerial crashes is warranted. Practical applications: The implications for conducting public health surveillance of aerial pesticide applicators may lead to a heightened awareness of deaths and injuries among health and safety professionals.

Author(s): Mannarino AJ, Langley RL, Kearney GD

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